In frustration the dragon initiates an all-out war on the followers of Christ.

David Meade – and many other Christian soothsayers – claim this “great sign in heaven” matched the position of the stars and planets on September 23, 2017.

He alleged the red dragon referred to a mysterious planet called Nibiru, which would appear in our skies and causing havoc.

Some believers claim Nibiru – also known as Planet X – has appeared and even provided photos and video to prove it.

Meade has now tweaked his prediction to say the Rapture will begin in October 2017.

But Rev Dr Ian Paul said the prediction was a “misconception”.

He told Daily Star Online: “This is not a plausible reading of Revelation 12. The plot of a dragon wanting to consume a child, who in the end defeats him, comes from the Greek myth of Python pursuing Leto who gives birth to Apollo.

“In other words, this is about the birth of Jesus bringing an end to the suffering of his exiled people by defeating Satan – their enemy and accuser."

2. Luke 21

In Luke, chapter 21, verse 10 and 11 Jesus describes how Christians "will know" when the end of the world is imminent.

He said: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.”

Some have linked these worrying words to recent world events including hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria and the threat of a nuclear war between North Korea and the US.

However, Dr Paul said Jesus was actually predicting the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

An architectural model of the Temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed by he Romans

Dr Paul told us: “In Luke 21, Jesus’ words have clearly been understood by Luke to refer to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in AD70.

“He refers to ‘Jerusalem surrounded by armies’ in Luke 21.20, and after the mention of ‘signs in the sun, moon and stars’ in verse 25, goes on to say emphatically ‘Amen, I tell you this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.’

“Luke records Jesus exact words in Aramaic here by using ‘Amen’ – showing that it was important to both Jesus and Luke, who was writing after the fall of Jerusalem, that all this referred to things in his own generation.”

Some believe the biblical stories predict all life on earth will be wiped out

3. Isaiah 13

Other doomsayers quote the Old Testament book of Isaiah, Chapter 13, verses nine to 10 which read: “The Day of the LORD is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger - to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

“The Stars of Heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising Sun will be darkened and the Moon will not give its light.”

Meade linked this to the rare solar eclipse which was witnessed over the US in August this year.

The sun blazed behind the moon causing a halo like effect in the dark Oregon sky in AugustThe same passage claims various solar and lunar eclipses mean the world is ending.Dr Paul told the Star these natural phenomenons had occurred many times before – and there was no reason to believe Isaiah was referring to the recent eclipse.He said: “Isn’t it a bit odd that we should take it to refer to ours? These things have happened before.”